Feline dementia?

[HuntingoftheSnark]

My cat will be 18 in a couple of weeks. Aside from one scare earlier this year, she is healthy, eats well, playful, loves attention and all seems fine.

Over the last couple of months she has started to go into empty rooms (as in devoid of people) and miaow in a loud, plaintive, attention seeking way. This would normally signal "stroke me" but she's aiming her voice at the wall or corner of the room.

Is there anything I can do to alleviate what seems to be distress? I call her and sometimes she comes - I'm not overly worried, just a little concerned as it's a recent thing.

This is her ladyship last week.

I'm sorry I have no experience of this as our cat is just under 10 , but hopefully bumping the thread for you.

Has she been checked by the vet? I would get her checked and rule out thyroid disease, pain etc first.

cognitive dysfunction does happen in cats. There are brain supplements you can try (such as aktivait by vet plus) or sometimes prescription anti anxiety medication can help if she seems distressed.

Thank you. She spent a day and night at the vet earlier this year when she was being terribly sick - I think I had a thread on her then - and she was ok.

I now work from the office two days a week and my only real worry is her doing this when I'm not here. And in fact, even if she is then I suppose I wouldn't be able to do much. Engage a house sitter.

Hello HuntingoftheSnark

Your cat looks lovely. A few months ago I house sat a friend's cat who had been diagnosed with dementia. I am not an expert at all but I do know about dementia and I used some of the same principles. The big thing was that she would forget to eat so I reminded her a lot and encouraged and praised her when she ate her food. I used her name a lot and gave a running commentary on what I was doing (lots of people do this to their cats anyway). She could still use her litter tray for the most part but obviously some cats with dementia do get beyond the point in which they can manage it.

Like you, my friend was out at work some of the time so the cat did have days in which she was alone. She slept a lot and obviously had companionship in the morning and evenings. Sadly, she had to be put to sleep a few weeks ago but she did have a good quality of life until the end.

@nettie434 thank you for your reply. That's interesting. Yes, I do the running commentary too! She definitely doesn't forget to eat - her appetite has probably increased recently and yes, she sleeps a lot but generally seems really contented. And actually hasn't done the yowling thing since I posted on here.

When she was at the vet a couple of months ago they ran all kinds of tests. I know that she's a good age for a cat so as long as she is happy, I'll just accept this is something she does from time to time. Thank you again.

Ours has dementia, she does just what your cat does and also forgets her captflap. She is like Mog the forgetful cat. PTphe vet said it can happen ours is 16 and a bit.

We also get down on all fours near her bowl to remind her to eat.

My about to be 20 years old next week Annie does exactly the same thing. When I call to her and tell her it's all right, she stops (her hearing is great, still). The vet can't find anything wrong with her, so I think it's just one of those things that a really ancient cat does. She has definitely not forgotten to eat though possibly she forgets she's eaten, judging from her relentless badgering us for more food!

@HuntingoftheSnark
Oh, she's gorgeous! And she has her own hairdryer? 😂
I was astounded some years ago when our very experienced vet said our cat probably had dementia, and animals can suffer from it as well as humans.
Different scenario to you - he began weeing and pooing around the house. He had the urge to wee or poo, and just did it wherever he happened to be. He also began dribbling excessively. Nothing we did could change his behaviour, so, mainly for hygiene reasons as our children were young, we very reluctantly had him put to sleep. I'm not implying this is what you should do, btw.
The vet agreed with our decision, pointing out that our cat had hardly any quality of life, but I still felt awful, guilty, upset......😓

Aww one of mine had this when she was 18. Used to pee in my house plants as she forgot where her tray was (a less sweet trait!), miaow constantly for food as she’d forgot she’d already had it (a cunning ploy maybe, but not something she had done before). She was fine - just old - I lost her at 19, bless her.

Eating more and random meowing sounds like hyperthyroidism, but you say she's had lots of tests.

My 17 year old cat is now coping with feline dementia. Have to fill her water bowl about 20 times a day ,if not she gets very vocal and she stares at the wall on and off . Plus I couldn't hoover if she was in the same room has she would run off , now she lies on the bed and lets me hoover around her , found out recently she has gone deaf. She used to rule the roost with the other 3 cats but now just watches them. Has long as your cat eats and drinks she will be happy that you are there for her , remember a 16 year old cat is going on 80 in our years , so of course their body and brain changes just like ours would . And yes I have been to the vets and they have said for her age she is doing really well.

Has your cat had her kidneys checked as kidney failure can cause this. Kidney failure can often be managed with diet and or medication. Hope you can get her sorted asap.

Ours has stage two kidney disease as well as feline dementia, winning combo, but she now has Royal Canin Renal and a probiotic called ipkatine and we haven't had any accidents since.

She forgets to eat her food but is very fond of human food and you cannot start cooking or eating with her trying to steal it over your shoulder so we put her in a bedroom when we have a meal as she cannot have human food.

@pippapoo62 she's drinking much more water than she used to.

Definitely had all her tests and all ok.

Thank you all - I do get that she's old, and really if I felt that she was uncomfortable then I would do something about it. She's just so lovely. Still trying to hang out of the window.